Tag: Bible study

In the Word Wednesday #17: The “Silly Dove” of Hosea

Hello, dear friends!

As I study through the book of Hosea with my small group, it has been a constant reminder that we, here in 2024, are really no different from Israel in 700 B.C. Our idols might present themselves differently, but they are still idols that keep our eyes off of God and onto ourselves. This study has also been mirroring much of what I’m reading in the devotional book by Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies.

This particular phrase caught our collective attention this past week: “Ephraim is like a dove, silly and without sense…” (Hosea 7:11a). At first glance you must wonder what this reference means. Scripture refers to the Holy Spirit coming as a dove on Jesus after His baptism (John 1:32). It also admonishes believers to be gentle/innocent as doves (Matthew 10:16).

When you look into the behavior of doves, a new understanding opens up. They are social, but they get easily lost. They flap around aimlessly, looking for places to perch. They know where to find the places the other doves are hanging around, but they seem unsure if they want to stay.

Hosea is likening the behavior of Israel to doves. They want to be with the other Israelites, but they get easily lost in the world and all it’s attractions. Although they have a fine homeland, given to them by God, they don’t seem to want to perch there. They have His word, written on their hearts, but other things keep taking precedence. They know where to go for socializing (The Temple courts) but, gee, that mountain over yonder, with all that other stuff happening, it looks kind of appealing.

We, as believers, know where to hang around (church and church functions), we know what to base our life on (The Bible) and that this world is not our home and we should fix our eyes on heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1, Hebrews 12:1-2). But we have the problem of self, of sin, of wanting what we don’t need and shouldn’t look for.

As Tripp says in the devotional, we have Jesus, and the amazing grace that God pours out on us. Will we still stumble? On this side of eternity, yes. But, God…God and His mercy restores us again and again, and rescues us from the idol of “self.”

Don’t flap around like a silly dove; get grounded in GRACE and His word daily. Run back to Him when you stumble or fall and soak in some of that mercy before you get back on your feet to move forward again.

And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Philippians 4:19-20, ESV

God Bless,

Barbara

In the Word Wednesday: Recognition Formula

I studied Ezekiel with my small group a while back (in August, ’22!), and in the book is what the authors of our study guide called the Recognition Formula. (We used a study guide from the LifeChange series by Navpress.)

A little background: Ezekiel is a contemporary prophet of Daniel, Jeremiah and 2 of the minor prophets, Habbakuk and Zephania. He was a priest of the Lord, who was called to be a prophet as his ministry was about to begin. His wife died in the first years of his ministry, and he was not allowed to mourn. Prophets did not have a flashy, easy life. Don’t listen to those prosperity preachers! 😉

His ministry was to bring the hearts of Israel, particularly of the leaders, to God. Within this message comes the Recognition Formula. It appears over 50 times in this book, and once you see it, you will find it in various forms, throughout Scripture.

Ezekiel 6:7 ESV

And the slain shall fall in your midst, and you shall know that I am God.

Our small group studied through the Psalms when we finished Ezekiel, and we found the formula in many of them. I am doing a Read Through the Bible in a Year plan, and I just spotted this in Exodus. Seven times in only 3 chapters. I’m certain if you search this phrase, hundreds of verses will come up.

“...you shall know that I am God“. God’s purpose for our life events are to point to Him, and to point your hearts to reconcile to Him. Ever so eloquently Ezekiel shows how God will restore the heart who searches for Him.

“And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.“

Ezekiel 36:26 ESV

Friends, this world is dark; but there is a Light that nothing in this world can extinguish. Look for God, seek Him while He may be found and let Him give you a new heart; a heart of flesh.

You can email me if you’d like a Bible, or have any questions about this post.

barb@stampinopolous.com

God bless 🌻

Study guide for Ezekiel can be found here: https://www.christianbook.com/ezekiel-lifechange-bible-study/9781615217366/

How to Faith a Life Bible Reading Plan can be found here: https://howtofaithalife.samcart.com/courses/course/gracebiblereadingplan/

I am not an affiliate of any links in this post. 😉

In the Word Wednesday #16 God Is My…

Hello, hello!

I’m coming to the end of my devotional book, Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler. Last week, there were several names I learned about, all having to do with God being our Dwelling Place (Moan (ma-OHN)), our Refuge (Machseh (mach-SEH)), our Shield (Magen (ma-GAIN)), our Fortress (Metsuda (me-tsu-DAH)) and our Strong Tower (Migdal-Oz (mig-dahl OHZ).

This week, I’m focusing on the verses that discuss God as my Dwelling Place. I’m still continuing on through the book (this week is Judge, but I really want to keep my focus on what God is to me. To really make it personal. I looked up the verses and copied them into a document in several different versions/translations. The collection of verses are all in Psalms (my all time favorite book in the Bible!) All are linked in the English Standard Version, but you can search them in the version you prefer on Bible Gateway.

Psalm 27:4-5

Psalm 31:20

Psalm 90:1-2 I am partial to this verse, in particular, in the King James Version

Psalm 84:10-12

I’d like to share the document with you. I hope that it blesses you as you read all the things that God Is.

Thanks for coming by! Have a wonderful week!

god-is-my-Download

In the Word Wednesday #12: Time

 

My beloved hubby has amassed quite the watch collection over the last 2 years. It all started with the smallest watch, next to last in line. It belonged to his father (Pops!) and he received it when he retired. Hubby has had it for years, but due to his very hands-on jobs, he rarely wore it. Now he rotates between all of these and the latest one that arrived yesterday (G-Shock Rangeman, in case you are wondering).

Time. We are obsessed with time; we live in less than 700 square feet and between our watches (yes, I have a few, too), phones, clocks and other appliances, we have TWENTY time telling pieces. 

I spend a lot of my time creating cards…and I finally got around to mailing a few out! 😉If I don’t take some time to write out a card, why make them, right? We spend time in church; do we take the time to serve in church? To show God’s love to others? I spend time cooking; do I take time to make extra to bless someone?

There’s a lot in Scripture about time, and how we choose to spend it. Time, for us, passes quickly and seems so short. It was only yesterday that I was 20…30…you get the idea. I can’t believe I can say, “I remember in 1975…” and it was decades ago! My oldest would have just turned 40 a few weeks ago, and my oldest grandkid is almost 17. What?

I mentioned above that my oldest would have been 40 years old…I never imagined that I would celebrate that day without her. We don’t know how much time we have with our loved ones. It is precisely the nature of our fleeting time that Jesus is concerned with. In many places in Scripture we’re told TODAY is the day of salvation. Take the time to listen to Him today. 💛

Blessings, my friends,

Barbara 

In the Word Wednesday #11: Using Stamps in Your Faith Journal and Planner

Happy Wednesday, friends! I’m so glad you came for a visit. Pour some tea or coffee, pull out your faith journal/planner and some supplies and let’s get creative!

Wait a second…what does stamping have to do with worship?

 We worship the CREATOR of the universe; the sun, moon and stars, mountains, valleys, birds, butterflies, rivers, lakes, oceans, you get the picture. Why not incorporate creativity into your journaling? 

I don’t always “feel” like it; sometimes I just want to write, write, write. But there are times when some pretty stamps or washi tape (and let’s not forget stickers…but that’s a whole different rabbit hole!) inspire some praise, or worship can inspire the decor! 

You don’t need to run out and buy anything; chances are if you read this blog, you already have stamps, ink and paper. 😀 Why not use them for more than card making?

I wanted something a bit different this year for my planner, and I decided to once again try out a disc-bound system. My friend Kristi of LifeinLine123 creates really nice, functional pages that you can print and use in your planners or journal. All her info is in the link, she’s passionate about incorporating faith into planning, wellness, and all of life! Here are a few shots of my February spread and weekly pages. Nothing too fancy, just reminders to trust God as I make plans, write appointments, etc.I also have a spiral notebook that I use for worship and prayer. 

Who doesn’t love Washi tape? I’m pretty low on it, but I’m NOT low on ink and stamps!

I used the Easter Lilies and Courage and Faith stamp sets on the February monthly spread. 🠞

I love me a good Bible verse set! Encouraging words for the month are always good to review. I love the background stamps, too, to add just a bit of interest to the pages. If you use Kristi’s or any printable pages, you don’t have to disc-bind your journals. You can 3 hole punch, put them in plastic sleeves, the sky is the limit! If you have a comb-binder, you can do that, too. I may splurge on some better quality printer paper as I go forward. 

🠜Here I’ll use the tiny heart from the Sending Love set to mark off my daily goal boxes..SO CUTE!!! 💛 I think that tiny heart is my very favorite stamp. Do you have a favorite stamp or set? Break it out and use it for more than cards! 

I’ll share my March spread at the end of February…it’s birthday month 🎆and I’ll try adding some fun papers to my monthly and weekly spreads, as well as some hand made dividers using a retired color card stock and some overstock of Sale-A-Bration DSP.

I hope this inspires you to get out some ink and stamps (and, maybe some washi 😉 ) and do a little creative stamping in your journals or planners.

Till next week, stay creative and prayerful!
Blessings

Barbara 🌻

In the Word Wednesday #10 Names of God by Ann Spangler

 Good morning friends!

I know last week I said I was going to go back to a different devotional, but…this one popped off my bookshelf instead. I started it a while back, and didn’t finish (well, I selectively went through it, haha). 

This features 26 weeks of study of names of God in the Bible. There’s an introduction, then 4 days of further questions and prayer. I might go through it twice or, maybe take 2 weeks to really soak in the text. 

Do you have some devotionals on your bookshelf that you haven’t finished or maybe used years ago? Revisit your own books! They want to be read 😀

I did start reading Proverbs again. I’m reading it in the King James Version, the version I used when I first began my journey. I’m very glad that I have this classic foundation. The KJV is so beautiful with the poetic books (Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Solomon). It took some years for me to switch over to another version for regular reading and study, but I like to go back to the KJV for these books. What’s your go-to Bible version? Let me know, and please keep it polite. I know it can be a controversial topic, and that’s not what we’re about here.

Whatever you choose, I pray that it brings you refreshment and joy as you grow closer to God this year!

Till next week, be blessed!

Barbara 

In the Word Wednesday #9 Join me on You Tube!

Good afternoon, friends! It’s been a bit, and I hope you all had a great Christmas. Ours was quiet, and that was fine. Some of the kids and grands came by on Christmas Eve, and I showed my granddaughter how to make a card. She did get her hand pinched by the punch, so I consider her an experienced stamper now! 

I have a short video coming up on You Tube in a bit (2:30 PM, MST) Please come join me over there and excuse my wonky internet 🙂

Stampinopolous on You Tube

Let me give you the links I mention in the video to get some free monthly Bible jounaling tools.

The Holy Mess, blog, with Sara Borgstede. 

So Very Blessed, blog, with Becky Brown.

Daily Bible Chapter You Tube channel, Monday-Friday, with Amy Maryon. She offers a free Bible study to go along with the readings.

Here is the devotional I mentioned, by Paul David Tripp, New Morning Mercies. (I am not an Amazon affiliate, just offering you a link!)

As I mentioned in the video, prayerfully consider what you can do to be in the word daily. You won’t regret spending that time with God.

In other news, I’ll be hopping on Facebook for lives, once I figure out my camera situation. Sheesh! All this technology should make it easy, right? Hahaha. Nope! Please join me there, also!

Stampinopolous on Facebook

I’m also on Instagram and I just started a Pinterest page. Just search “stampinopolous” and you’ll find me! 

I appreciate you taking some time out of your day to join me for Bible discussions, or card creating, or whatever else comes along. Maybe in February I’ll start a NASCAR Monday series! Leave a comment with your favorite driver if you follow NASCAR!

I’ll keep posting, and have a great afternoon!
Blessings, Barb

In the Word Wednesday #8: When You're Tired

 There are times in this life when you are just plain tired.

The holiday season, a group of family birthdays, work responsibilities, care giving stressors, the list can go on and on. Maybe you’re facing a health issue, loss of income, family tensions. Let’s face it, life isn’t always kittens and rainbows.

But, here is where a perspective check may be in order; were we promised “easy”? Have you read through the book of Psalms? Lamentations? Ecclesiastes?

Those are perhaps my favorite portions of Scripture. The authors are real, raw and oh, so very in need…

~ in need of God’s comfort

~ in need of God’s hand to move on their behalf

~ in need of GOD

And, you know? GOD always shows up.

I won’t lie; I was tired today. I woke up later than I usually do. I had plans to do XYZ, and those went by the wayside. We had to get to the grocery store. Hubby isn’t feeling great. And, I had blog posts to catch up on, I still need to practice with my tripod to start making video tutorials, dishes were in the sink, you get the point. All I wanted to do was go back to bed.

But…I put on worship music.

But…I took out my prayer journals.

But…I took a breath, opened my Bible and read His word.

Yes. I am still a bit tired; but I filled my tank and moved on.

I encourage you, right now, to put the phone down, get off the devices, put on some praise music and open your Bible. You don’t need to carve out 2 hours. If you can only read 2 verses, DO. God is waiting for you. He meets you where you are, and will lift your spirit.

I think this is especially important when you feel tired, when you feel like life is not being fair. Spend some time in the Word. God does not disappoint. 💛

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30

The word of the Lord. Blessed be His Name.

I hope you all have fabulous holidays. I will be taking a break next week, and will be back on December 27 for In the Word Wednesday.

Blessings, Barb

Image from YouVersion Bible App

In the Word Wednesday, Thanksgiving Eve

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

I am so grateful that you spend some of your precious time here reading my posts. 

Every few days, I incorporate Martin Luther’s prayer “formula,” for lack of a better phrase. His barber, Peter, asked Luther how he should pray, and after prayer and thought, he came back with a 40 page document on personal prayer! Whoa! 

Don’t be alarmed! I am only giving you the highlights!

The acronym is ITCP: Instruction, Thanksgiving, Confession, Praise. It has been a good way of keeping my mind focused on what I am doing. If you’re anything like me, your mind can wander even at the most sacred of times. I cannot numerate the amount of times, in church, my brain begins to think about what I’m making for dinner rather than what the pastor is speaking about. Sad, but true.

So, as you prepare for the holiday, no matter if you are hosting, traveling, going out to dinner or staying home quiet, spend some of your time in prayer, asking Gid what He is showing you (Instruction), thanking Him for insights (Thanksgiving), repenting and keeping a short account with God and seek what He is showing you (Confession), and praise Him for everything, even the stuff that’s not so much fun (Praise).

I hope everyone who reads this has a wonderful and blessed holiday weekend.

Doxology

Give Thanks, by Don Moen

More on prayer:

A Simple Way to Pray, Desiring God

The Lord’s Prayer, Crosswalk